The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart

We did eventually get the room we booked at 5:15, and things improved after that. They brought up a complimentary bottle of wine, we had tasty drinks at Mary Mary's, then a lovely dinner at Peppinas. But the arrival was awful. We booked one night and got there at 3 pm, only to be told the previous guests would check out around 4 and our room wouldn't be ready until after 5. At first, all they offered was free parking and a voucher for two drinks. I was furious and stormed out. My husband has medical issues and needs an afternoon nap, so he agreed to take a lesser room, but it was beside the elevator and maids' closet, and he wasn't happy with that either. In the middle of the night I realized the delay was because they didn't have enough staff. If they knew guests were arriving at 3, why allow a 4 pm checkout? It left us angry because we felt they'd lied to us.

For our 50th wedding anniversary, we booked a Panoramic River View room with breakfast for two, at $816.00. We made the booking on 12th December 2025 for 28th January 2026. After arriving and valet parking the car, we paid for the room, then were told the guests there had asked for a late checkout until 4 pm and were members. I was already unhappy. They said we'd been "upgraded" to a Heritage Suite. It was a lovely room, but it wasn't what I had booked, and I was very disappointed with how they handled it. I emailed Head Office afterwards, but we still haven't reached a suitable outcome. We wouldn't recommend The Tasman to stay at, and since we live in Hobart, we wouldn't recommend it to friends or family either. Very disappointing. Peppina Restaurant, though, was absolutely amazing and the highlight of our 50th anniversary.

We felt very special here, thanks to all the lovely little touches, crisp sheets, engaging wall art and a well equipped gym. The rooms were beautiful, and there were wonderful food and drink options. The only thing I missed was a pool or water feature. I brought my fiancé for a short visit to see the MONA, but it was closed the whole time we were there. The hotel helped keep our spirits up.

The Christmas Lunch was a highlight: an exceptional eleven-course menu with matching wines, curated by sommelier Tim to suit a wide range of tastes. It was remarkable value for money. Throughout our five nights, and for the last three nights when two close friends joined us, we felt like valued guests rather than customers. Anand, Rey, Sheila and Etienne deserve special thanks, as do all the team members who made us feel welcome. My wife and I stayed at The Tasman in Hobart from December 23-28, and the warm service started before we arrived. Concierge Juan confirmed an upgrade based on my Lifetime Titanium Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy. It was one of the top five upgrades I've received in more than 25 years as an Elite member. Our spacious suite had a separate bedroom and a generous lounge with a gas fireplace. There were dual basins in the bathroom and a separate wet room with a shower and large bathtub, perfect after long days exploring Hobart. The bed and pillows were exceptionally comfortable, and the linen was clearly high quality. I worked in hospitality during university, and learned that tasks can be taught, but passion, pride and enthusiasm can't. Everyone we met showed those qualities and took pride in being part of The Tasman team. General Manager Carolyn Smith leads in a hands-on way, which we saw ourselves, and it comes through in the hotel's service culture. Thank you, Ms Smith, and thanks to the whole team for such a memorable stay.